Social inequalities in breast cancer mortality among French women: disappearing educational disparities from 1968 to 1996

摘要: We investigated the time trends in social inequalities breast cancer mortality with an analysis by age at death and birth cohort using a representative 1% sample of French population four subcohorts (1968–1974, 1975–1981, 1982–1988 1990–1996). Causes were obtained direct linkage national registry. Education was measured beginning each period, educational disparities studied among women aged 35–74 period. In 1970s, higher found educated women. This positive association progressively weakened no remained 1990s although it disappeared earlier younger cohort, same pattern born before 1925, whereas between education observed after 1925. Educational are currently changing previously gradient has disappeared. An important question is whether these relations indirect, due to changes prevalence risk factors associated education, but which we could not study.